Lake Erie Interclub 2024 - Monday

 

Monday saw Rick and I back on the Edge to see the fleet (42 boats we were told) amassing for their 10am start of the Long Point Bay race.

As each fleet started the spinnakers would pop up as they sailed down wind to Bluffs Bar.

From there they sailed to the Turkey Point buoy. The finish line was re-positioned to there as the wind dropped.

The river and lift bridge were busy as they came in from the lake to dock at the Yacht Club.

Monday night Rick and I went to the fish fry at PDYC

and enjoyed

the party atmosphere.

Plenty of sailboats,

flags given out (Port Dover boats Sequence, Sheets and Giggles and Flyer all received honors),

music (we danced),

camaraderie

and lots of sailing stories to be told.

Back at home:

Its been very wet...but not this wet.

Its also been very warm

and the garden

is responding.

Lettuce, spinach and chard grew rapidly and then went to seed. Kale, radishes, beans and carrots are doing much better. Tomatoes are growing well but the moisture and warmth have given them rust so I am not sure how they will produce.

New Cardinal flower is still happy.

When Nicola and David bought this house in Guelph, the front yard was baked grass. Now it vegetable gardens, flower beds and shrubs.

Congratulations to Ellis - graduated from Carlton University.

As predicted, the wind and rain has littered the yard with these beautiful Catalpa flowers.

Lake Erie Interclub 2024 - Sunday

 This years Interclub involved a race in Erie on Saturday and we watched, from the Edge, as Port Dover boats headed over there on Thursday and Friday.

On Sunday, Rick and I were sitting on the Edge for our morning coffee and Eagle watching.

Enjoying the colour

on the bank.

The Catalpa Tree next door is a mass of flowers that will soon be raining down on their yard and mine.

It was VERY windy and

we were surprised to see the committee boat out and a boat finishing the Erie to Port Dover race. Knowing what time they left (Rick and I have both experienced the cannon going off at an "ungodly" hour in Erie and readying the boat in the dark) they completed the race in under 4 hours. This was Damn Yankee, a Farr60 (60ft long and the biggest boat in the fleet)

Others were not far behind.

and there was a steady stream, battling their way across Long Point Bay to be able to rest at the Yacht Club or Outer Marina. All except the Farr60, who is too big and has to find a sheltered anchorage out in the Bay.

Hot dogs (Arbor Dog Races)

 

I headed down to the Museum just as the Dachshunds were amassing 

for the days events.

It was an overload of cuteness with dogs in carriers,

dogs in costumes,

some with owners in matching costumes

and some just milling about, sniffing or barking at each other.

After the costumes were judged, they then paraded down the pier and back,

while on the river

there was the usual

busy Saturday activity.

Back from the parade

and it was time for the main event.

The participants and spectators waited patiently as the heats were called.

The expression "like trying to herd cats" should be changed to "....herd dachshunds"

as they weren't all

into it.

Each had a handler at the start line trying to get them cranked up and focused on the goal

and another at the finish line using balls, treats or just their voice to motivate them

to, at least, head in the right direction.

With the crowd, loudly, cheering them on.

There were 3 heats, 5 or 6 dogs in each one.

The top three from each heat advanced

to the semi-finals and then the finals.

I didn't stay for the end as I wanted to get over to Silver Lake

to see some of the firefighters competition.

But, when I got there

they were on a lunch break.

I took the opportunity for a walk

around the lake

When I got back around

to where the action was....

there still wasn't much action.

Families sitting in the shade.

It was a beautiful day, so both that day and the next, Rick and I went sailing.

Then Monday evening was the last of the spring season Spinnaker races and Spellbound finished 4th for the month. (12 in the fleet) A pretty good showing for our first involvement in the regular club races. That's Fiona on the right, then Gord, Rick and myself.